MrSMW

Well my ‘favourite’ focal lengths just happen to be 40 and 80 as in if I had to choose a pair of primes, these would be them. 40’s are rare and I can’t think of an 80, but 35’s common, otherwise it’s 70 (just a teeny bit too short) 75 OK, 85 OK, 90 getting a teeny bit long indoors. So a lens that with a single push or pull is either 40 or 80 is kind of perfect for me. The 35-70 was going to be the one I was going to try but a bit short and when I discovered the 40-80 existed, it was game set and match. I started out with the Angenieux f2.6 28-70, but again, a bit wide and a bit short and slightly pricy because of the name. Same with a lot of vintage glass such as Helios 58mm. Once something gains something of a cult following, prices shoot up. These Contax Zeiss lenses seem to have a good rep, but don’t seem to have quite that level of cult worship yet, especially the 40-80 which has very little coverage. The results I have seen from the 30-70 though look great. I can’t see any scenario where I would move 100% to vintage glass, especially for stills, as I do have an AF requirement, but then never say never as there are clever LiDAR options so… The bottom line is I don’t like following convention but simply for defying convention sake. If that makes sense?!

Maybe and that is why I am actually quite interested in raw as I’d like to explore having an image with the most latitude in post. However, contrary to that, I am also interested in a SOOC baked in look! Winter time will have to be my playground and ideally, my next camera will have internal raw as I really do not wish to buy an external monitor, or even worse, use one. From an ergonomic working perspective of a hybrid shooter. It’s not nimble.

Absolutely fine, I use MF about 90% of the time for the exact opposite reasons which is I don’t trust anywhere near as much AF. Or at least didn’t with the S5 and previous Fuji cameras such as the XT3. With focus peaking, it’s just a reliable way to work most of the time. For anything that requires tracking however, such as; entrances, exits, couple walking shots, AF, principally because I will be shooting stills at the same time so the unit shooting video will be on sticks. There is also a certain purity and ‘craft’ about shooting anything and everything as manually as possible which for me = almost everything video and just auto ISO and AF stills. MF just removes uncertainty for peace of mind when working so actually removes a layer of thought process and that is an overall ethos I am always working on which is removing as much ‘stuff’ that gets in the way as possible. My current ‘dilemma’ is the gimbal. I only use it for one thing which is tracking couple shots which I can do on the S5ii it’s IBIS being so good. Not as good, but close/good enough so it begs the question why charge up, transport, set up, carry, use…something if so little value, or is that tiny bit of value sufficient to warrant it’s place. Still debating that one with my alter ego, Mr Kit…

Which to me seems an odd way of doing things ie, to my way of thinking, there would be one single accurate as possible conversion LUT and then you take it any direction you wish with a creative LUT or manually. Yes, I remember that test that Sony won with more picking their images in a blind test than anyone else’s. I was a Fuji user at the time and was most offended…

Great use of the Luma Colour Checker shirt Jim 👍 The only question I have is why a massive company like Panasonic are SO SHIT at doing this themselves?! I don’t know anything about this kind of thing but it’s my mission to understand more over this Winter and once this season is done, I think I’m going to need to give your LUT a whirl at the same time as learning Resolve.

Yep, but never really got on with it because mainly having to relearn a muscle memory thing of around 2 decades. I mean I can do it in a pinch, but I’ve always preferred the half press and the AF set up for focus rather than release. But going to take the opportunity to try an older lens to see if the magic really exists with this particular unit.

Keep an eye on this thread then https://www.eoshd.com/comments/topic/75353-vintage-zoom-lenses-with-ibis/#comment-577142 as I am going to try a vintage zoom lens 😉 My current S5ii AF problem caused me to consider how I might best use this unit for the remainder of my season before I can send it in under warranty to be fixed. Also, because the S1H is my preferred option for stills, that with the Sigma 28-70 f2.8 paired with the slightly dicky S5ii shooting video only with the 40-80 could make a very nice pairing for me. My other S5ii will cover off any AF video needs and longer static duty on a tripod. Could be a great set up but will withhold judgement until I can test it…

Cool and thanks, bookmarked that link to have a play when the lens and Contax to EF adapter turn up, which hopefully won’t be too long…

Yep. The 50-100 never got much love but the 18-35 is revered by many. I considered them all recently but I’m trying to stick with full frame with my Lumix bodies. An updated version of that pairing for cropped sensor users might be a dream come true…

I may even have a dabble with Braw but we’ll see about that as I’d rather not invest in an appropriate monitor if an S2H is coming which would probably have that internal…

I am eyeing up a Contax Zeiss 40-80mm f3.5 to have a dabble in this vintage lens for video thing that some folks do. 40mm (indoor) and 80mm (outdoor) are two near perfect focal lengths for me hence why this lens and using it like a twin prime lens would work for me. I have EF-L Mount adapter with the built in VND from…the name escapes me and I am on my Summer hols, but worked very well with the Meike cine lens I tried. So I just need to work out how to adapt a Contax lens to EF Mount but believe it’s easy to do? My big Q however is IBIS. I know I can set a specific focal length which is what needs to be done with any non-native manual lens, but is there an option for something like this 40-80 or do you need to set 40 and/or 80? I would be using it on the S5ii if it makes any difference. One of my S5ii’s has lost it’s half-press shutter button AF ability and needs to be sent off under warranty to be fixed, but I cannot do this until after my season finishes early Sep. It still works in every other regard but I may as well use this time to at least try this set up for, ‘sinematic’ (TM) effect. If I can’t set IBIS for both 40-80 then I guess I’ll just make a custom mode for each and switch it each time which is no massive deal because as above, it would typically be a couple of hours indoor followed by typically 6-8 outdoor followed by a couple of hours back indoors. Finally, probably no one has experience of this lens being a bit obscure and a photo lens, but any info of interest. The other contender was the 35-70 but the longer reach of the 40-80 ‘sold’ the focal length to me.

My fingers are crossed. With every system to date so far on my hybrid quest, the most difficult part of the equation has been the lenses. Sony have had ‘my’ lenses for some time now. Nikon with their 70-180 f2.8 recently ticked that box and for me, has the two bodies which again tick the boxes. As you say, something like that from Sigma paired with whatever an S2H might be (and I would suspect, jumps straight to the top of the tree), then I could go back to what is probably the wedding photographers best flexible set up which is a pair of bodies with a 24-70 and a 70-200 which I had in my Nikon D3 days. Only this time, smaller & lighter bodies, smaller & lighter lenses, albeit slightly restricted focal lengths (personally I prefer 28 over 24 so no loss to me and 180 vs 200 I’ll take the smaller & lighter lens every single time thank you) and now not just with video capability, but video capability that exceeds anything videographers had access to even 5 years ago. As above, fingers crossed for L Mount…and pretty confident it will happen, but if not, I already know it exists with Nikon.

I should add that my current pair of S5ii’s plus S1H with various lenses is a superb option and really working for me right now. They just can’t take me to the next level I wish to go to. I would…and perhaps should, have flipped this year, but the cost was the issue. Next year though, we’ll see, but I really NEED a smaller more lightweight option for ‘70-200’ such as the 70-180 options available for Sony and Nikon but it seems no other mount? In summary, holding out and hoping for an S2H from old Pannyboy and a 70-180 from Sigma…

Do I want it? Yes. Do I need it? Actually also yes. Yes if I am to take my work to the next level which is to go from 3 to 2 cameras with true hybrid capability. ‘True hybrid capability’ for me = being able to shoot video and stills with the same unit but also pull stills from the video that could have been shot as stills as the latter deletes the need for that 3rd body for me. The Z9 however is really the only current body that offers me that with 8k 60p internal raw so as things stand, the benchmark. Paired with a Z8 and a pair of zoom lenses (28-75 and 70-180) and that’s it for me, all my needs met. L Mount really is going to have to have the equivalent available early 2024 or I can’t see any other option to go back to Nikon after a 12 year hiatus. I would not shoot 8k 60p all the time however, just at certain specific times. I’m not totally bonkers!

I like a rangefinderesque style camera and Fujis XPro1 and then 2 were my working cameras for stills for about 5 years. They screwed it up for me a bit with the rear LCD on the 3 and the more DSLR-like bodies were/are more practical, especially for video/hybrid use. There were rumours of Panny & Leica bringing out something but I suspect it was pure wishful thinking, but it would get my interest at least. Sigma though are arguably in the game with their FP and FP-L and but for a couple of things, would be my tools of choice. I’m still hoping for a successor that is not crippled to death… But Sony’s 6XXX line has always been for the enthusiast so there’s going to be compromises and they do have to continually bring out new models because that’s how business works.

I can’t wait for the hate. Piece of shit Sony camera. No I haven’t got one and no I’m not going to try one because it’s for YooToober influenzas. 🔥

I ran a 12k and walked 18k yesterday but now feel slightly inadequate… 3100 MILES?! Even Forrest Gump would choke.

Good call. Hadn’t thought of that and will try it first thing AM. Cheers. I do suspect it’s an issue that has developed with the shutter button on that unit… Meanwhile, the S1H remains bullet proof. I need 100% reliability, or at least as close as possible. I might just swap one of the S5ii’s for another S1H as used, they are cheaper than new S5ii’s…

Fixed the hair trigger. I don’t know how because I have tried that many combos, but that one is sorted. The other though, nope @BTM_Pix it’s not that… Default on the S5ii it’s focus for AFS and balance for AFC and I leave my cameras in AFS for stills and video as video they use AFC anyway. I think… My brain is that addled right now I’m questioning my own sanity… The thing is I haven’t changed anything on either so it’s just bizarre. These things were just set up for how I work and have just done that without glitches. Back button AF-ON works for focusing, but it’s an alien muscle memory way of working for me. I still have an unopened S5iix sitting here which was going back tomorrow, but now… I do think there is some kind of tactile/mechanical/electronic glitch when half pressing the shutter. I just can’t find anything in any of the settings that can change that and my final piece of evidence in that regard is normally a half press is how you come out of the menu, but it’s now a harder press and involves taking a picture. That ain’t right so I suspect hardware more than software?

I have not tried a full factory reset on either and that is my last resort...if that even works...

So I just came back from my latest 3 day job and zero issues at that job or any previous one using these bodies. I have them set up IDENTICALLY and like to think I am pretty familiar with them having used my first one for the last 8 jobs and the second for the last 3. But upon my return today, something very odd has happened and I cannot work it out, am away on vacation tomorrow and on my return, am away for my next job, ie, zero opportunity to send the things off to be inspected which could takes weeks or even a month plus. Unit 01 = the AF sensitivity just seemingly disappeared on the shutter button, ie, the normal gentle half press has turned into the need for a much harder press usually resulting in taking a still. (We are talking stills mode here). Unit 02 = at exactly the same time, the shutter button with this one has turned into a hair trigger. The slightest touch and it takes a pic. I've checked all my settings and as far as I am aware, I have not changed a single thing. It's somewhat unreal that an issue can occur and the polar opposite issue, at the same time, with 2 of my 3 working cameras...but it has. So if anyone has any wise advice, I'm all ears! I have tried flipping between AFS and AFC and all the different AF modes...and nothing. One unit now does not want to half press AF and the other has become a hair trigger. WTF??!!

And final decision made… The S1H is staying and the S5IIX going back without breaking the seals of the packaging never mind the box. I went into this weekends 3 day shoot edging towards the 3 identical camera body approach, which I would prefer in principle, plus smaller, lighter, faster, newer has certain benefits, but… The S1H is just too good a stills camera. Yes, stills. It’s meant to be ‘The Video One’ but actually excels as a stills camera for shooting people and events because it’s that little bit less critically sharp than the others without The OLPF. And then there is build, the ergos, the feel of the thing to use and the shutter sound is just sublime. The S5ii by comparison feels and sounds tinny. So decision made. I can’t sell or not use the best camera I have ever used. At least not until a genuine replacement comes along. When or if that happens, but otherwise the S1H is being reconfigured in my line up as principal stills with occasional video and the S5ii’s becoming more video specific and less stills. Same kit, just re-jiggled about a bit! I think the gimbal is going though. Just not getting any real use out of it and the S5ii is pretty good in that department for my limited needs.

Indeed, they could, and I had concerns last year, but especially over whether the next gen S5 had good AF. I for one would have 100% ditched L Mount if they had not ‘fixed’ the issue both in reality and in the public eye, as though my requirement for good AF is minimal, for 5-10% of my work, it is essential and the non-PDAF approach was not reliable enough. But they sorted it and I believe they are now experiencing greater sales. OMDS though, no one really knows who they are. Well of course a tiny minority do, but there is literally zero history or provenance and people do tend to buy stuff they know the brand name of whether it’s as good, better or worse. Brand names sell. I’m a big fan of the smaller independent companies though, the Sigma’s, the Black Magic’s and a future landscape with more of these and fewer giants would be welcome. As a business, one of the decisions I need to keep in mind is the cost vs return and balancing the books as it were. From a purely business POV, I would have near 100% faith in the more established players such as; Sony, Canon, Nikon, Fuji being around for at least the foreseeable future, but the future of Panasonic’s camera division may have hung in the balance over the success (or not) of the S5ii. I suspect it may just have saved them, but that is pure speculation on my part. OMDS though… Bought the remnants of a once mighty camera company. Brought out a camera almost certainly designed by that former company, but my fear would be if they can no longer market that companies heritage, they have to stand on the merit of their own product. And no matter how good that product may be, if folks do not buy it in sufficient quantity because they have “never heard of it”, then it could spell disaster. Bottom line for me would be a dead brand/product line with zero updates, that may very well last for the duration of said products lifespan, ie, until they break or wear out, but then might require replacement with an entirely new system including lenses and ancillaries etc. There’s always some kind of risk/compromise however, so… Sometimes I wish I was a millionaire or there was a rental company next door to my house so I could spec my best set up with all the brand options and shoot them back to back to then make a proper real world informed decision. But as I am not a millionaire and live in the rural French countryside, I can’t 🤣

Indeed. Unless there is something specific that you actually need, familiarity with the kit you have is under-considered by so many as are actual shooting skills. I get it though, most of us are not immune to shiny new things, myself included… My own focus for the rest of this year and probably all of next, (now that my kit conundrum has finally been solved, is extending that familiarity even further so the tools get even further out of the way), is capture skills and editing/production skills. Still interested in ‘stuff’ but none of it is a need anymore.

The deal-breaker for me when considering a switch to an OM-1 based system for all my work was my concern whether they would even remain in existence as a company beyond this last ever ‘Olympus’ badged release. However, I think if my priority was building as ‘micro’ a kit as possible, it would be based around using these bodies. The GH6 is undoubtedly the better video camera. The S5ii is the sweet spot for me with ‘equal’ IBIS and AF of the OM-1 and the video chops of the GH6 whilst offering full frame stills in a body barely bigger or heavier than either and if you are selective with your lens choices… But out in the jungle, that OM-1 has a really high level of robustness and I really liked that 12-40 as an all purpose lens! Such a capable, chunky but small combo that just felt right in the hands…but just not enough for my needs as an entire system.